Russian Bomber Pilot Found Murdered in Bryansk

Dmitry Golenkov, a Russian nuclear bomber pilot accused of war crimes in Ukraine, was found murdered in an orchard in the Bryansk region, reportedly bludgeoned to death with a hammer. Golenkov, 46, was implicated in the deadly missile strike on the Amstor shopping center in Kremenchuk that killed 22 civilians and injured dozens on June 27, 2022, and in another attack on a residential building in Dnipro that resulted in 46 civilian deaths, including six children. The Ukrainian military intelligence agency, GUR, referred to his death as 'justice' for his actions, although they did not directly claim responsibility. Images of his bloodied body were shared by GUR, emphasizing their message of retribution for war crimes. Golenkov served as chief of staff of the aviation squadron at the 52nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment, flying Tu-22M strategic bombers. His demise has sparked discussions surrounding accountability for military actions in the ongoing conflict.